Brinda Karat describes death of Indian woman in Ireland as culpable crime

New Delhi, Nov. 15 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday described the tragic death of Indian national Savita Halappanavar in Ireland as a culpable crime, and asked the Indian Government to intervene with the Irish authorities and see that justice is delivered to her family members.

Karat said the case involving the death of an Indian woman in Ireland shows the utter insensitivity of governments who want to control bodies of women in the name of religion.

"This case in Ireland is particularly shocking, because it is nothing but a culpable crime. In the first place, no religion mandates that you watch a woman dying and you refuse to give her an abortion, which is what she needed. So, this is a culpable crime," said Karat.

"And certainly, the Government of India, since the young woman was an Indian citizen, should and must intervene with the Government of Ireland on this issue, and see that justice is brought at least to the family members," she added.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj also echoed similar sentiments in connection with the case.

"The Indian Foreign Office must take it up very strongly with the Government of Ireland pointing out the fact that the patient, the lady in this case who is of Indian origin, she was not a catholic Christian and she kept on saying repeatedly that 'my faith allows I want an abortion to be done', but it was denied to her on religious grounds and which has virtually cost her life. So, it's very unfortunate," he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which has expressed concern over the tragic death of Halappanavar in Ireland, today said that it was awaiting the results of the probe being conducted by the Irish authorities.

"We deeply regret the tragic death of Ms Halappanavar. The death of an Indian national in such circumstances is a matter of concern. Our Embassy in Dublin is following the matter closely," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"Our sympathies have been conveyed to the next of kin who our Embassy has been in touch with. We understand that the Irish authorities have initiated two enquiries. We are awaiting the results of the enquiries," he added.

Halappanavar, a dentist, was reportedly denied a potentially lifesaving abortion even while she was having a miscarriage.

The 31-year-old Indian woman died in Ireland from blood poisoning after doctors allegedly refused to perform an abortion on grounds that as a Catholic-dominant country, it forbids such an act. (ANI)

Thousands rally against abortion law in IrelandThousands of people rally outside Ireland's parliament after Savita Halappanavar, an Indian dentist, dies after being refused an abortion. Sunita Rappai reports.

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